Abstract: This present invention provides a method and compounds for priming the incorporation of cellular glucose into an oligosaccharide in a cell comprising administering to the cell a priming amount of a membrane-permeating nontoxic glycoside having a suitable hydrophobic organic group joined by a linkage to a suitable hydrophilic saccharide, wherein the hydrophilic saccharide has a nonreducing terminal sugar residue selected from the group consisting of glucose or xylose, thereby priming the incorporation of cellular glucose onto the glycoside to form an oligosaccharide. Also disclosed are methods wherein the administration of the glycoside is sufficient to treat diabetes mellitus and glycogen storage disease.

Abstract: L-Ketohexoses such as L-fructose and L-tagatose are produced from L-psicose and L-sorbose as substrates by allowing D-ketohexose 3-epimerase to act on these substrates. The yield and the production cost of the produced L-fructose and L-tagatose are industrially acceptable. The enzyme is preparable from microorganisms, e.g. those of the genus Pseudomonas.

Abstract: A method for production of toxin-binding, non-toxic, modified, biopolymers and the use thereof for the treatment of septic shock, infections and toxic states and to the use of them as carriers for transportation of biologically or therapeutically important materials (enzymes or drugs) into phagocytes or cells bearing Fc and complement receptors and as a natural source of energy for cells. The toxin binding, non-toxic structurally modified biopolymers are prepared by the reaction of polysaccharides containing alpha 1,4 or 1,6 linkages with glucose-1-phosphate catalyzed by glycogen phosphorylase enzyme in a buffer solution at pH 6.8-7.4 at a temperature of 20.degree.-30.degree. C. and by the separation of the obtained biopolymers in a well-known manner.

Abstract: A method and composition for the control of take-all disease of winter cereals, especially wheat, barley, triticale and rye and/or take-all patch disease of turfgrasses. The composition comprises at least one isolate of Phialophora sp. which shows cold tolerance as determined by a radial growth rate on a defined quarter-strength potato dextrose agar at 5.degree. C. of at least 1.0 mm/day.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel microorganism (FERM BP-5144) belonging to the genus Plesiomonas and having ability to produce maltose phosphorylase and trehalose phosphorylase required for the enzymatic production of trehalose and novel maltose phosphorylase and trehalose phosphorylase obtainable from the microorganism as well as a process for producing the enzymes. A novel process for enzymatically producing trehalose (O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-(1.fwdarw.1)-D-glucopyranoside) is also disclosed.

Abstract: Reagents that specifically bind a carbohydrate target wherein sialic acid is linked at the nonreducing terminus of a glycoside to a galactose or galactosamine residue through an .alpha.2-6 linkage are able to inhibit the conversion of human Factor X to human Factor Xa. These reagents (SA/Gal/GalNAc binding reagents) as well as other strategies for inhibiting the conversion of Factor X to Factor Xa are useful in treating thrombosis, inflammation and other conditions associated with excess thrombin activity.

Abstract: Processes using 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase (DERA) are described for the preparation of 2-deoxyfucose and related compounds. In one embodiment, DERA is used to catalyze the condensation of acetaldehyde as donor and a 2(R)-hydroxy-3-(hydroxy or mercapto)-propionaldehyde derivative to form a 2-deoxysugar whose hydroxyls have the configuration of fucose. In another embodiment, DERA is used to catalyze the condensation of two moles of acetaldehyde as donor and one mole of a 2-substituted acetaldehyde acceptor to form a 2,4,6-trideoxyhexose via a 4-substituted-3-hydroxybutanal intermediate.

Abstract: A novel fructosyl amino acid oxidase derived from genus Fusarium or Gibberella, a process for producing the enzyme, an assay of an amadori compound using the enzyme, a reagent or a kit containing the enzyme, a process for producing fructosyl lysine and/or fructosyl N.sup..alpha. -Z-lysine as a substrate of a fructosyl amino acid oxidase, which is useful for screening and/or culturing a microorganism capable of producing the enzyme, and a medium containing fructosyl lysine and/or fructosyl N.sup..alpha. -Z-lysine for screening and/or culturing a microorganism capable of producing a fructosyl amino acid oxidase is provided.

Abstract: Method for reducing symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis in an animal by administering to the animal an effective amount of an acetylated polymeric mannan derivative.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of enzymatically preparing .alpha.-glucoside esters. First, .alpha.-glucosides are produced by placing an acyclic alcohol or a mixture of acyclic alcohols having a water solubility of at least 2.7% v/v at 20.degree. C. in contact with starch, maltodextrins or maltose, in the presence of a purified enzymatic preparation having .alpha.-transglucosylation activity, wherein the enzymatic preparation is free of .beta.-glucosidase activity. Then, the .alpha.-glucosides are contacted with at least one fatty acid and a preparation having lipase activity to produce the .alpha.-glucoside esters, which may then be recovered. The preparation having .alpha.-transglucosylation activity may originate from a fungus such as Talaromyces duponti, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus batatae.

Abstract: An enzyme composition and a means of reducing the stickiness of honeydew contaminated cotton is disclosed. The composition includes, and the method uses, enzymes such as transglucosidases and pectinases which are capable of hydrolyzing sugars that make-up honeydew.

Abstract: Oligosaccharide compounds that are substrates and inhibitors of glycosyltransferase and glycosidase enzymes and compositions containing such compounds are disclosed. A method of glycosylation is also disclosed. An E. coli transformed with phagemid CMPSIL-1, which phagemid comprises a gene for a modified CMP-sialic acid synthetase enzyme, which transformed E. coli has the ATCC accession No. 68531 is also provided.

Abstract: A novel polysaccharide comprising (1->4) bonded .alpha.-D-glucose units represented by the following formula ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an acetyl group in a ratio of 7:3 is extracted and isolated from a liquid culture medium of a microorganism belonging to the class Basidiomycetes in the presence of a plant tissue extract. About 30% by mole of hydroxyl groups at the 2,3-positions of each unit is acetylated and the polysaccharide has a molecular weight of 500 to 10,000. The polysaccharide has properties of biological response modifiers (BRM) and is useful as an immuno-enhancing agent or immuno-activator.

Abstract: A .beta.-fructofuranosidase with a molecular weight of 49,000.+-.5,000 daltons on SDS-PAGE, an isoelectric point of 4.6.+-.0.5, an optimum pH of about 5.5-6.0, and an optimum temperature of about 50.degree. C. in the presence of calcium ion. The enzyme acts on saccharides with a .beta.-fructofuranosidic linkage and other substances including other saccharides, sugar alcohols, and alcohols to produce fructosyl-transferred saccharides in a relatively high yield.

Abstract: A method of recovery of DNA of a microorganism in soil is provided which comprises addition of nucleic acid to a liquid suspension containing the soil and the microorganism before lysis of the microorganism and recovery of the desired DNA.

Abstract: An artificial plasma-like substance having at least one water soluble polysaccharide oncotic agent selected from the group consisting of high molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch, low molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch, dextran 40 and dextran 70, and albumin which is buffered by lactate and has a pre-administration pH of between 5 and 6.5 is disclosed. Also disclosed is an artificial plasma-like solution having at least two water soluble polysaccharide oncotic agents one of which is eliminated from the circulation slowly and the other of which is eliminated from the circulation quickly. Supplimentation of the plasma-like solution with certain ions is described. A system for administration of the plasma-like solution to a subject wherein the system comprises a first and second solution each having particular buffers is described. The plasma-like solution including cryoprotective adducts is also disclosed.

Abstract: A D-sorbitol dehydrogenase in homogenous form, which catalyzes the oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose, has a molecular structure consisting of homologous subunits of molecular weight 79,000.+-.5,000 each, a substrate specificity for polyols and an optimum pH of 6.0-7.0. Said D-sorbitol dehydrogenase is producible by a process comprising cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Gluconobacter or Acetobacter, or a mutant or variant thereof, which is capable of producing the D-sorbitol dehydrogenase in the cells and isolating it from the cells, e.g. by disrupting the cells and isolation from cell-free extract of the disrupted cells. The so-isolated D-sorbitol dehydrogenase is useful for catalyzing the oxidation of D-sorbitol to L-sorbose, the latter being an important intermediate for the production of vitamin C.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to isolates of Candida oleophila which are effective for the control of postharvest diseases in fruit and to biocontrol compositions which include such isolates. A method of utilizing the isolates to inhibit pathogens which cause postharvest diseases is also described. The organisms were isolated from the surface of tomato fruit and are useful for the control of a variety of fruit-rot pathogens in a variety of fruits.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel amylase which mainly forms maltohexaose and maltoheptaose when acts on starch, but does not substantially hydrolyze maltohexaose and a lower molecular oligosaccharide than maltohexaose. The amylase can be prepared from microorganisms of the genus Alcaligenes, and has a relatively-high optimum temperature and thermal stability, as well as a relatively-wide range of optimum pH and pH stability. By using the amylase, saccharide compositions rich in maltohexaose and/or maltoheptaose or those rich in maltohexaitol and/or maltoheptaitol can be readily prepared in an industrial scale, and the saccharide compositions thus obtained can be used in a variety of food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A porous carrier for biocatalysts (a) comprising a water-insoluble inorganic filler and a polyolefine binder selected from polyethylene and polypropylene, (b) having open pores allowing cells to penetrate and grow within its pores, and (c) having a density above 1 g/cm.sup.3.